Does it ever feel like it’s easy as pie to line up a babysitter during the week, but when it comes to finding a babysitter on the weekend, you can’t get a single sitter on the phone?
Trust us, we’ve been there! Weekends are supposed to be a time to relax and unwind from the weekly grind. But as parents, we know that in reality, Saturday and Sunday can be downright crazy. Between sporting events, playdates, birthday parties, and errands, how are you supposed to squeeze in some me time? Better yet, what about that adults-only get-together your friends have been planning for months?
Even if you’re a stay-at-home-mom, weekends are often a great time to give your kids some time with your partner while you grab a moment for yourself or run hundreds of errands that get pushed to the back burner during the week. But often, your partner has his own laundry list of must-dos (and want-to-dos!).
If any of these scenarios describe your life, we’re sure you’re ready for a change of pace that a weekend babysitter could provide.
Well, don’t worry, because we’ve got some solutions for you! Below, we’ve outlined some great ways to find a weekend babysitter right when you need one most.
Use Your Network
Before you start thinking you’re up a creek without a, well, babysitter, consider what your friends and colleagues are doing for weekend childcare. How are they attending functions and running errands? Ask how they found their weekend babysitter and whether she might have any friends with similar schedules who might also be looking for extra work. Or if they use a sitter service, ask for a referral so you can try it out as well.
Use a Service
And speaking of sitter services, why not try one? A sitter service like Care.com or SitterCity can be a lifesaver when you’re in a jam and need childcare. Keep in mind that it will take a bit of advance planning on your part in order to register with a service and perform background checks on sitters you might want to use.
Additionally, these services don’t provide on-demand services. That means if you need a sitter in an hour, these sitter services may not be the best option. But for lining up a weekend babysitter in advance, sitter services like these offer the ultimate in flexibility and availability.
The Mommybites Babysitters Board has been helping families find trusted weekend babysitters for any occasion for over a decade. No more having to scramble so you can get that much-needed date night.
Help Wanted Ad
Perhaps you’d like to take matters into your own hands. If so, your best bet when it comes to finding a weekend babysitter may be to put out a help wanted ad. An ad is a great way to find people looking for weekend babysitting jobs. Not only that, you’ll be able to advertise exactly what you’re looking for in a babysitter and what hours you need coverage for.
If you have a regular nanny or babysitter during the week, but she’s looking for some extra work on weekends, you can refer her to other parents who need parent-recommended, reliable childcare.
There are several Brooklyn bookstores that would make great places to post your help wanted ad.
Bookstores like Greenlight or Books Are Magic are good choices, as is the Community Bookstore. Other great places? Brooklyn College, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, and the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. Anywhere that caters to kids and young adults is a great place to post a help wanted ad if you need a weekend babysitter.
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Christin Perry is a freelance writer and editor living in the DC area. She specializes in the lifestyle genre and her writing has been published by The Knot, The Bump, and LittleThings.com.
